Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-22

back again when the door opened once more,
and Isabel's aunt entered the room.
II Miss Pink could, by any possible con-
juncture OF circumstances, have disappeared
mysteriously from her house and her friends.
the police would have found the great
est difficulty in composing the neces-
sary description OF the missing lady.
The acutest observer could have dis
covered ..othing that was noticeable
or characteristic in her personal appearance.
The pen of the present writer portrays her in
despair by a series Of negatives She was
not young, she was not old she was neither
tall nor short, nor stout nor thin; nobody
could call her features attractive, and i,obody
gould call them ugly; there was nothing in
her voice. her expression, her manner or her
dress that differed in any appreciate degree
from the voice. expression, manner and dress
of five hundred thousand other single ladies
of her age and position in the world. If you
had asked her to describe herself, she would
have answered, II am gentlewoman;' ind
If you had inquired which of her numerous
accomplishments took highest rank in her
own esteem, she would have replied, my
powers of conversation" For the rest, she
was Miss Pink, of South Morden; and when
that has been said, all has been said
spray be seated, sir We have had a
beautiful day after the late long continued
wet weather. / am told that the season is
very unfavorable for wall fruit. May offer
you some refreshment after your journeyP
In these terms, and in the smoothest OF
voices, Miss Pink opened the interview.
Mr.. Troy made polite reply, and edded a
few strictly conventional remarks on the
beauty Of the neighborhood. Not even O
lawyer could sit in Miss Pink's pres nee and
hear Miss Pinlx's conversation with out feel
ing himself called upon lin the nursery
phrase) to 'be on his best behavior"
at is extremely kind of you, Mr.. Troy, tC
favor me with this visit" Miss Pink re
sumed ~ am well aware that the time Of
professional gentlemen is of especial value tC
them, and I will therefore ask you to excuse
me if proceed abruptly to the subject OF
which desire to consult your experience"
Here the lady modestly smoothed out hel
dress over her knees, and the lawyer made 6
| bow. Miss Pinks highly trained converse
ton had perhaps one fault-it was not
strictly speaking, conversation at all In it
effect on her hearers it rather resembled thu
contents of a fiuently conventional letter
read aloud.
1.-THE circumstances under which my nice
Isabel has left Lady Lydiard's house." Mis-
Pink proceeded, 'are so indescribably pain
full will go further, will say so deeply
humiliating-that l have forbidden her t.
refer to them again in my presence, or t.
mention them in the future to any livini
creature besides myself You are acquaintet
with those circumstances, Mr. Troy, and yol
will understand my Indignation when I frs
learned that my sisters child had been sus
| pected of theft. l have not the honor o
being acquainted with Lady Lydiard. Sh
is not countess, believel just sol he
husband was only baron. am not &C
quainted with Lady Lydiard, and win no
trust myself to say what think Of her con
duct to my niece"